#31 - The Return of the Presidential Fitness Test: Repeating the Past or Reimagining the Future, with Kathy Harvey and Jamie Sparks

Distinguished PE is excited to announce the launch of three, self-paced, graduate level courses! See below for more information on how to sign up ... 

 

In this episode, Kathy Harvey, Jamie Sparks and I talk about the return of the Presidential Fitness Test, whether or not it belongs in a high-quality PE program, and the impact it can have on students. Then we zoom out a bit and explore fitness testing more broadly, including what teachers actually do with the data, and what it looks like to meaningfully incorporate fitness testing into a program, if that’s the route you’ve chosen … or had chosen for you.

 

Kathy Harvey taught pre/K- 8th grade physical education for over 30 years in the Bethlehem Township School district located in Asbury, NJ. Thousands of students have gone through her physical education program, completing either the President's Physical Fitness Test or Fitnessgram … or both.

 

Jamie Sparks currently serves as Executive Director of Kentucky SHAPE. He is the former Coordinated School Health Director for the Kentucky Department of Education and a recent Past President of SHAPE America, bringing both state and national leadership experience to his work of championing skills-based health education, quality physical education, and healthier school environments for all students.

 

Resources

The Atlantic: Gym Class is so Bad, Kids Are Skipping School to Avoid It

Presidential Youth Fitness Program

 

Distinguished PE has officially launched three new self-paced courses! You can take them for graduate-level credit, for hours toward renewing your teaching license, or simply for your own professional growth and reflection.

Each course aligns with a chapter from Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher and provides opportunities for authentic, job-embedded learning:

Promoting Equity and Inclusion in PE.

High Expectations for Student Behavior

Standards-Based Content and Language Objectives

 

You can earn three graduate-level credits for each course (nine total if you complete all three) through Colorado State University Pueblo, which can help teachers move over on their pay scale in many districts. If you’re looking for renewal hours, each one offers up to 100 hours toward your teaching license.

To learn more or get registered, head over to www.distinguishedpe.com and click on Virtual Courses.

Click here for the direct link to sign-up: Register Here!

 

Looking for more? Visit the DPE Linktree to: • Buy the book • Sign up for the DPE Virtual Course • Grab DPE merch